Kompetens och ledarskap hos studie- och yrkesvägledare i rollen som gruppvägledare

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to investigate which competence is used and in what way leadership is exercised by guidance counselors in the role as a group counselor. The use of group guidance techniques is, according to the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance, IAEVG, (2018) part of the specialist competence for guidance counselors. Being able to use techniques for group guidance is one thing, practising leadership is another. For a group counselor, both parts are important. The role of a group counselor is thus influenced by both specific elements of competence for guidance counselors and by the interdisciplinary area of knowledge of leadership. We have used a phenomenological approach and a qualitative method to answer our research questions. Interviews have been conducted with eight professional guidance counselors about their experiences in the role as a group counselor. International research and theory in the areas of competence, leadership and group guidance shows that knowledge and skills are not sufficient for the role of group leader. The results of this study show that the group leader's knowledge and skills need to be combined with other elements of competence such as social ability, empathy, intuition, creativity and flexibility. The study also finds that situational leadership is relevant for group leaders, as the needs of the group vary during the different phases of group counselling.